PSYC Exam 1

Which sequence of correlation coefficients correctly arranges the relationships between three pairs of two variables in order of increasing strength?

+0.10, +0.50, −.60

After a terrorist attack in Brussels, Sharon disagrees with others and believes that intelligence agencies could NOT have foreseen the event. Sharon is avoiding an error in thinking known as:

the hindsight bias.

Which answer CORRECTLY pairs a correlation coefficient with a description?

-0.90 - inverse

_____ is a type of descriptive research method in which a researcher observes and records behavior without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Naturalistic observation

In an experiment, the process of random _____ ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being in either the control group or the experimental group.

assignment

In the survey project she is working on, Dr. Miyake finds a correlation of +.60 between attachment security and the likelihood with which participants say they would engage in various prosocial behaviors at work. This could NOT mean that:

attachment security and prosocial behavior are unrelated.

In terms of your heartbeat, digestion, and glandular functioning, your body is a fairly well-oiled machine that works even when you are asleep. This is possible because of your _____ nervous system.

autonomic

A neuropsychologist describes a patient who is experiencing difficulty with coordination and balance. The patient's brain damage is probably localized in her:

cerebellum

Festinger is to Zimbardo as _____ is to role playing.

cognitive dissonance

Sequential processing is to parallel processing as _____ is to _____.

complex tasks; simple tasks

Two neurosurgeons were able to reduce seizure activity in epileptic patients by severing the _____.

corpus callosum

If two traits vary together, then the two traits are said to:

correlate

Joe and Theresa are having communication problems in their relationship and wish to get some insight and perspective. Joe suggests to Theresa that they set up an appointment with a:

counseling psychologist

Craig demonstrates _____ thinking by not blindly accepting arguments and conclusions from others. Instead, he analyzes the assumptions behind any claims, looks into possible hidden values, and tries to determine if conclusions are warranted.

critical

Dr. Maturin, a psychology professor, encourages his students to always consider alternative explanations for research findings. One student raises her hand and asks him, "Do you mean you want us to be _____ thinkers?" Dr. Maturin replies, "Yes."

critical

Jane and Sarah were watching the evening news when viewers were asked to call in about the city's proposal to raise taxes. Later in the broadcast, the results were posted. Both Jane and Sarah were skeptical of the 68 percent of the viewers who supported the tax increase. They began examining the assumptions behind the proposal, tried to uncover hidden values of the voters, evaluated the evidence on both sides of the controversy, and assessed all conclusions. Jane and Sarah were engaging in _____ thinking.

critical

When Leanne read experimental evidence that indicated that orange juice consumption triggers hyperactivity in children, she questioned whether the tested children had been randomly assigned to experimental conditions. Leanne's reaction BEST illustrates _____ thinking.

critical

_____ reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus after a response. It serves to strengthen the response.

neg

Neurons cluster into work groups known as:

neural networks.

While listening to operatic solos, musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas. This MOST clearly illustrates the functioning of different:

neural networks.

Dr. Tyler is a clinical psychologist who prescribes drugs such as Valium and Xanax to treat his patients' anxiety. Dr. Tyler adheres to the _____ perspective in psychology.

neuroscience perspective

Carmen is driving at night in an unfamiliar city. The neighborhood looks dangerous; Carmen feels extremely alert. The neurotransmitter _____ is helping her cope with the stressful situation.

norepinephrine

Valentina is engaged in naturalistic observation. In which project is she MOST likely engaged?

observing interactions between subordinates and their supervisors in a large corporate office

Which choice BEST completes this sentence: "Glutamate and GABA have _____ effects on neural activity"?

opposing

Caffeine increases activity not only in the brain, but also in the branch of the nervous system serving the body. This branch is called the _____ nervous system.

peripheral

The MOST powerful indicator of whether people will become friends is geographic nearness, or _____.

proximity

Olympia and Helena are discussing obesity. Olympia notes that 70 percent of adult Americans are obese. Helena engages in critical thinking by:

questioning Olympia's assumptions and asking to examine the evidence behind the 70 percent figure.

Sally visited two casinos and won large jackpots at the slot machines. Her friends told her to keep playing because she is on a lucky streak. Sally just took an Introductory Psychology class and decided not to spend any more money. She realized the two winning events were:

random

When something extraordinary happens, such as when one individual wins the lottery twice, people tend to see a pattern, such as a streak of unbelievable luck. In actuality, the two winnings are:

random events.

Which terms are MOST closely related to each another?

representative sample and generalizability

Dr. Anderson's line of research is on bilingual children because she grew up in a household learning two different languages and firmly believes in its positive effect. This illustrates that:

research is value-laden.

Operant behavior produces events in the environment, whereas _____ behavior occurs as an automatic response to a stimulus.

respondent

The suggestion that psychology is less a set of facts than a method of evaluating ideas BEST highlights the _____ character of psychology.

scientific

Priti is watching her favorite television program and sees a commercial for a new medication. It states that the medication can alleviate depression. "Since depression is a chemical imbalance, new Venlafaxine extended release can help with mood, sleep, arousal, and alertness by working on the two key neurotransmitters involved in depression." These two neurotransmitters are norepinephrine and _____.

serotonin

Animals can be trained to perform many behaviors through _____; that is, by providing well-timed rewards as the animals progressively better approximate the desired behaviors.

shaping

It is often reported that the United States lags beyond other nations in its education of young scientists. Trying to be proactive, a local college is encouraging high school students to take courses in the sciences. Which characteristic should faculty look for when they try to identify students who are likely to succeed in science courses?

skepticism

With respect to the three scientific attitudes, a psychologist who asks, "How do you know?" is demonstrating _____, whereas a psychologist who asks, "Could I be wrong?" is demonstrating _____.

skepticism; humility

When we perform better on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others, this is called _____.

social facilitation

Voluntary is to _____ as involuntary is to _____.

somatic; autonomic

Research discussed in the textbook suggests that it takes just over _____ days for a behavior to become a habit.

60

At the beginning of the school year, groups of college students were asked to predict a variety of their own social behaviors (e.g., calling their parents, voting in an election). The students reported being 84 percent confident in their self-predictions. What was the actual percentage of correct predictions?

71%

Which perspective examines the degree to which genes and environment determine individual differences such as personality traits, intelligence, and sexual orientation?

Behavior Genetics

_____ thinking involves considering various pieces of evidence, fitting them together, and relating them to the bigger picture.

Critical

How does the scientific attitude relate to critical thinking?

Critical thinkers rely on evidence to back claims and the best kind of evidence is scientifically based.

Which researcher is conducting a case study?

Dr. Innis, who is examining the tactile perception of a blind woman

Dr. Rowan attempts to help his patients uncover unconscious motives and conflicts. Dr. Rowan appears to reflect the _____ approach in psychology.

Freudian

uestion illustrates how psychologists approach the nature-nurture issue?

How are differences in personality influenced by heredity and by the environment?

Vivid dreams occur during this recurring sleep stage, also known as paradoxical sleep.

REM sleep

The textbook recommends a study method called _____ that emphasizes active processing.

SQ3R

A pharmaceutical company wishes to test the efficacy of a new antidepressant with a double-blind procedure. Which statement CORRECTLY describes the procedure the company would use?

The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Also, each participant would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.

In an experiment conducted by Professor Costa, participants press one button if they see a red light and another button if they see a green light. Professor Costa is studying the amount of time it takes to press the buttons. This is similar to experiments conducted by which early psychologist?

Wilhelm Wundt

Dr. Estevez prepares a set of questions to ask college students about their drinking behavior and their attitudes toward alcohol. She is undertaking:

a survey.

An advertisement for a new drug therapy catches Stephie's eye. The advertisement claims that the drug will counteract the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Which neurotransmitter does the drug probably influence?

acetylcholine

A researcher finds a correlation of −.51. Which pair of variables is the researcher MOST likely investigating?

alcohol consumption and GPA

Which phrase BEST expresses the proportion of animal researchers who support the government regulation of the treatment of nonhuman primates, dogs, and cats used in research?

almost all

The brain area that is MOST active when a person is shown intense, emotional pictures is the: `

amygdala.

This bushy, branching extension of a neuron receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body.

dendrite

The _____ system is the body's "slow" chemical communication system.

endocrine

Understanding how a fear of darkness may have contributed to the survival of our human ancestors is probably of MOST interest to psychologists reflecting the _____ perspective.

evolutionary

In the human nervous system, glial cells:

greatly outnumber neurons.

The limbic system contains the:

hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus

In the 1990s, the U. S. Army used the recruiting slogan, "Be all that you can be." This catchphrase BEST reflects the _____ perspective in psychology.

humanistic

While some neural clusters in the _____ regulate hunger, other areas influence thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior.

hypothalamus

A large pharmaceutical company begins to write a research protocol based on their belief that a new medication called Drug R may be useful in treating anxiety. They predict that Drug R should reduce symptoms of anxiety. This prediction is a(n):

hypothesis

Research with split-brain patients suggests that the _____ typically constructs the theories people offer to explain their own behaviors.

left cerebral hemisphere

In an experimental test of the effects of vitamin B-12 on problem-solving performance, _____ is the independent variable and _____ is the dependent variable.

the vitamin; problem-solving performance

The correlation coefficient ranges from _____ to _____.

−1.00; 1.00